Plans to put rail line back on track (From Bucks Free Press)

Plans to put rail line back on track

9:14am Tuesday 28th December 2004

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THE fight to save the Marlow to Maidenhead railway line has been joined by members of the town council.

Members criticised the Department of Transport's proposal to classify the route among 56 earmarked for community status said to show poor returns and low usage.

The Government plans to cut the £300 million subsidy paid to rural branches by getting local organisations to increase passenger numbers using various strategies and voluntary work.

However, Cllr Tony Dunn, chairman of the town council's planning committee, blasted the proposal.

He said: "We must try and get the branch removed from the community railway proposals.

"It's an incredibly important facility for keeping a large number of people off the roads, which has to be of benefit both locally and nationally."

Howard Bellairs, town council clerk, said the proposals should be opposed and supported the view held by the Marlow to Maidenhead Passenger Association that the line should be considered a "mainline feeder service".

He said any attempt to obtain passenger figures had been blocked "as the outgoing operator of the service wouldn't give them out because they said they were commercially sensitive".

Cllr Dunn was left frustrated by this lack of information.

He said: "If they are not telling us what the usage is, how the hell can they expect us to budget for it?"

However, Cllr Neil Marshall feared not going along with the proposal could spell disaster.

He said: "We're obviously all in favour of supporting the Marlow line.

"The danger is if we don't buy into it, it's left to the rail companies and Railtrack.

"We could burn our fingers by not being in."

Councillors agreed to write to the district council and Marlow MP Paul Goodman to gain advice on how best to forward their views.

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